The Pros and Cons to Using Apps and Mobile Devices in Your College

The Catch with Apps & Mobile Devices

Dependency

While apps and mobile devices appear to provide end users with infinite benefits, Stalnaker cautions against the risks of distractions and dependency.

He says just because apps and mobile devices boost learning, doesn’t mean old teaching methods can’t be mixed into today’s pedagogies still.

“I think that we can get a little too dependent on it to where we rely on the technology to do the teaching and learning, and we move away from the stuff that’s worked for so many years,” Stalnaker says. “I think it’s a balancing act. You use a mobile device and the features of a mobile device whether its location-based or supplemental, but don’t rely on it 100 percent.”

Restrictions

Skidmore says colleges should be wary of tools that might be too controlling over app usage and mobility.

He says sometimes, schools can get in trouble if they are too restrictive, especially fit they try to manage students,’ faculty’s and staff’s personal devices.

Skidmore says colleges should consider balancing supervision with end users’ freedom to use their own devices and access apps.

“Be wary of tools that are designed to manage the devices because ultimately, the school doesn’t own the students’ devices,” he says. “Trying to look at tools that require the device to be registered or enrolled adds a layer of complexity and that’s not permissible on devices that are not owned by the university. Think about technologies that don’t require the device to be enrolled, something that is light weight and simple to use, that can be distributed to tens of thousands of people, particularly with a population that turns over every year.”

One size does not fit all

Stalnaker says colleges should stay clear of relying on one app to serve many needs and solve all problems.

He says colleges should work on fostering relationships with vendors that provide multiple apps for them to use.

Stalnaker says this will make a college’s mobile device and app usage strategies successful.

“I say that from a standpoint that [GSU’s] mobile strategy has been to leverage our strategic partnerships with these partners, have conversations with them about apps, and publishing the right ones to our user base that’s going to make them successful,” he says. “I anticipate more institutions moving that way because one app doing everything isn’t going to serve anybody.”